Our Founder ~

Rita Luallen, the Founder of Hooves and Angels, Inc. Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, has been riding and training horses for more than 35 years. She got her first horse when she was Sixteen, appropriately named “Pal”. Over the years, she went from a casual pleasure rider to training horses, specializing in helping horses and owners get through behavioral issues using gently humane methods.

Rita recognized the need for horse rescues as a young adult. While working on a Guest Ranch, she watched ('first-hand') a co-worker physically abusing a young Appaloosa Mare by beating her around the head with the end of tree branch. This abuse was happening while the horse was in chest high water of a small pond and the co-worker was on her back in full tack. Rita verbally warned the co-worker to cease his actions of abuse. Needless to say, when the co-worker was seen two days later committing the same acts of abuse...Rita rescued the horse with the support of local law enforcement. Overtime, with patience and love, that young mare transformed from a frightened human-hating 1200 lbs. of destruction' into a gentle well-balanced member of our family.

This mare 'grew-up' with Rita's daughters. At the old age of 33 years, the mare passed from this world with her head nestled on the lap of Rita's oldest daughter, without a memory of the abuse she had endured during the first few years of her long life. During the past 30 years, Rita has rescued over 200 horses and given them the care, love, and respect that they needed and deserved. Her family has joined in her desire to help improve the quality of life for so many horses in need. To Read More about Rita, Click Here.

Rita, has over 35 years of Equine experience and is a Registered Instructor of the;

North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA).